Open Rivers Initiative

Purpose
In the United States, millions of dams and other barriers block fish from reaching
upstream spawning and rearing habitat. Dams often provide benefits, such as hydroelectric
power and irrigation, but many are now obsolete. Removing these structures can improve
the health of our rivers, fisheries, and our economy. In 2005, NOAA created the Open
Rivers Initiative, which provides communities with funding and technical
guidance to carry out dam and barrier removal projects that restore local
rivers and streams. The initiative is focused on community-driven dam and
river barrier removals, with the goal of enhancing watershed health and
fostering sustainable populations of migratory fish such as salmon, sturgeon,
shad, river herring, and American eel.